Doctors, Drug Companies, Politicians & Corruptions - by Shenali Waduge (21.08.2010 - Asian Tribune)
They
say there’s no money in healthy people. But, why is the pharmaceutical
industry the most profitable industry in the world? It is because they
have mastered the art of concocting the disorder, creating the drug for
the disorder and then bombarding the public with advertisements to
convince them they’re afflicted, leaving little choice but to get
“prescribed”.
The growth in the pharmaceutical industry began to expand towards the
1970s. Pharmaceutical companies began to form mutual partnerships and
began dominating the production of medicines. Advertising boomed making
it possible for consumers to be enticed into believing there were
miracle cures or drugs that would make people look young forever,
increase sexual libido, maintain youthful looking skin with zero after
effects or side effects. ...............................>>
Sri Lanka’s Hambanthota Port eyed by India’s Mahindra Group (19.08.2010 - Asiantribune.com)
Colombo :
India’s leading business house- the US $ 7.1 billion Mahindra &
Mahindra Group, is eyeing lucrative investment opportunities in Sri
Lanka’s Hambanthota International Harbour, a senior Mahindra official
told the Asian Tribune.
“We are very much interested in the Hambanthota Port project and
exploring opportunities we have there, including developing a Special
Economic Zone (SEZ) in Hambanthota. However no concrete decisions were
taken as subsequent team has to visit Sri Lanka for that,” Pravin Shah,
Executive Vice President of International Operations (Automotive and
Farm Sector) told the Asian Tribune.
A Mahindra delegation was in Colombo for two days of discussions with
top government officials, including President Mahinda Rajapaksa and
Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr. Sarath Amunugama, to explore
opportunities in the island nation. ...............................>>
Hambantota International Harbour - A Dream Come True - by Dr.T. Jayasinghe - Palestine (06.08.2010 - Asian Tribune)
At
a time when news about disasters all around take priority over
development news, the appeal of that indefatigable young engineer Dr.
Priyath Bandu Wickrema, Chairman of Sri Lanka Ports Authority calling
the people of Sri Lanka to visit Hambantota harbor site and see the
brown virgin earth getting covered with sea water brought tears to my
eyes.
Being one associated with this project at its initial stage I can now
recall with much satisfaction the role I played as the convener of the
first Task Force for the construction of Hambantota harbor on the
instructions of President Mahinda Rajapaksa who at that time while being
the Minister of Fisheries was also the Minister in charge of Sri Lanka
Ports Authority.
The first meeting was a fairly large gathering of engineers and
administrators from Sri Lanka Ports Authority, academics from
Universities specially from Moratuwa, politicians, researchers and
others who advocated the idea of a harbor at Hambantota. President in
his first address gave the assurance that this harbor would be built
notwithstanding any obstacle. .................................>>
Indo-Lanka
CEO's forum to be formalized soon : Lankan High Commissioner - Sathyalaya Ramakrishnan reporting from Chennai (30.06.2010 -
Asiantribune.com)
Chennai : The much-talked-about Indo-Sri Lankan
forum of CEOs is expected to be formalized soon in tune with the joint
agreement signed between the two countries during the recent visit of
Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakshi to New Delhi.
Sri Lankan High Commissioner in India Prasad Kariyawasam announced it
during an interactive session with members of the Bengal National
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BNCCI) at Kolkatta on Tuesday.
The idea of establishing the 'CEO Forum' was floated by the Lankan
President during his talks with the Indian leaders as well with captains
of industries at the time of his visit earlier this year, Mr Prasad
stated. ................................>>
Lanka banking on IIFA for image makeover (05.06.2010 -
asianage.com)
Recovering from the scars left by its long
ethnic conflict, Sri Lanka is making the most of the three-day
International Indian Film Academy awards-2010 that began in Colombo on
Thursday.
The star-studded event began with a fashion show as models and stars
walked the ramp at the Sirimavo Bandaranayake Arena in Colombo in the
IIFA Foundation Extravaganza which kick-started the film carnival.
The fashion designers whose creations were shown included India’s Manish
Malhotra and Vikram Phadnis and Sri Lankan designers Yoland and
Kanchana. Actors Vivek Oberoi and Diya Mirza hosted the fashion night
that had bureaucrats, politicians, industrialists and actors from both
the countries in attendance. ...............................>>
Vibrant policy, immense scope, enticing
and exciting package for investment
– President Mahinda Rajapaksa (04.06.2010 05:10
GMT - info.gov.lk)
“Those of you who are keen to explore,
will find abundant opportunities for investment in Sri Lanka. The scope
is immense : from infrastructure, to agri-business, to manufacturing and
to a range of services. You will also find that our country offers a
rare package of skills, capacity, and a willingness to learn and adapt.
Our policy is vibrant, our package is enticing and exciting, and you
would do well to join us in our forward march. I earnestly invite you to
do so,” said President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the Business Forum
organized jointly by the Indian and Sri Lankan Chambers of Commerce in
Colombo today, to coincide with the IIFA Awards Weekend. ..................................>>
U.S.
Government supports IT
sector employment opportunities for youth in Eastern Province (29.05.2010 -
Asiantribune.com)
Colombo : For the first time, a multinational IT
company will open a major production center in Sri Lanka’s Eastern
Province. With financial and technical support from the United States
Agency for International Development (USAID), a new software product
development center, Advanced Information Consulting (Pvt) Ltd., has been
established in Akkaraipattu, in the Ampara District.
The center will create employment opportunities for youth graduating
from local educational facilities in the Eastern Province. This
pioneering initiative, led by Kingslake Engineering Systems (Pvt) Ltd.
through its subsidiary Advanced Information Consulting (Pvt.) Ltd.
(AIC), will help build the professional capacity of youth living in a
post-conflict environment. ..............................>>
Visit Lanka enables Sri Lanka to have the biggest entertainment - by Quintus Perera – Asian Tribune (10.05.2010 -
Asiantribune.com)
Colombo : This June 2010 as Sri Lanka prepares
to celebrate her first year of peace, Visit Lanka, an exceptional travel
agent and tour operator, has a pleasant surprise to share with us all.
After months of meticulous planning and endless negotiations.
The International
Indian Film Academy awards (IIFA) 2010 is scheduled to be held
in Colombo from 3rd to 5th June and perform the biggest entertainment
event in Sri Lanka with the royalty of Indian Cinema arriving here for a
weekend of entertainment. ...............................>>
Iran’s
VP invites Sri Lanka
to enhance exports to Middle-East
via Iran - by Sha Jamaldeen in Tehran (07.05.2010 - The
Island, SL)
Iran’s Vice-President Hamid Baghaei has urged
Sri Lankan entrepreneurs to take advantage of Iran’s Chabahar Free Trade
Zone – facing the Gulf and the Indian Ocean -, to promote Sri Lankan
exports particularly tea and other products to the Middle-East and the
CIS countries. He has also urged Sri Lankan banks to open branches
preferably in any of the Free Trade Zones and in the capital Tehran to
facilitate enhancing commercial ties between the two countries.
The Iranian Vice President who is also the Head of the Iran Cultural
Heritage, Handicraft and Tourism Organization (ICHHTO) met Sri Lanka’s
Ambassador to Iran M. M. Zuhair P.C at the ICHHTO headquarters in Tehran
on Wednesday. ...........................>>
Shocking
exit of Tandon Lanka leaving Rs 1 billion debt - Suppliers, workers and freight
forwarders left in the lurch (05.05.2010 - The Island, SL)
For want
of a monitoring mechanism on the part of the government, leading
electronics manufacturer Tandon Lanka Pvt. Limited has terminated its
operations at Pallekelle, Kandy, without settling debts to the tune of
about Rs one billion, well informed sources say
Sources say the top management, including an Indian national, had left
the country leaving workers, a host of local suppliers and two leading
banks in the lurch. The company owed a staggering $ 8 million to
State-owned and private banks, they said. ..............................>>
